Versatility Makes Laptops Attractive

COMPUTERS

The other day, I asked a friend if she would pay $5,000 for a laptop computer. That's about how much my first new car cost 20 years ago and more than some people pay as down payment on a house.

Nodding enthusiastically, my friend said yes, she would pay $5,000 for a state-of-the-art laptop computer if she could afford it.

Laptop manufacturers must feel there are a lot more people ready to pay seemingly outrageous sums.

Multimedia laptops are more powerful than ever and aren't as expensive as they seem once you consider their versatility. Some people are finding that a laptop offers all the computing power they need.

If you travel a lot or love the idea of taking your PC anywhere, think about buying a high-end laptop as your only PC.

For $2,500 and up, you can buy laptop computers that nearly are as powerful as desktop models.

They're perfect for students, sales people, retirees who travel a lot and even time-conscious office workers.

Let's say you prepare income tax returns as a sideline, but can't use the company's personal computer for that. With a laptop computer you could spend your break time and lunch hour calculating returns in the company cafeteria.

After work you could find a conference room at the library and work another hour.

After arriving home, you could plug your laptop into a device called a docking station. Then the laptop would be connected to a full-size monitor, full-size keyboard and printer.

That versatility drives the laptop industry. Business users have been carrying around portable computers since 50-pound ''luggables'' were introduced in the 1980s. Now most laptops weigh about 7 pounds, and even home users are realizing the value of owning a computer they can take anywhere.

If you're shopping for a computer and are trying to decide between a laptop and a desktop, you should know that:

Despite the appeal of laptops, desktops offer the most bang for the buck. If you're on a budget but want a top system, spend about $2,000 on an IBM-compatible or Macintosh desktop setup and be happy. You'll spend twice that much or more on a comparable laptop.

Your laptop may pay for itself if it's being used for business. Do you sell cosmetics on weekends? Are you involved in some other direct sales venture? Demonstrations made with the aid of a computer are impressive, and as you travel around you could use your laptop to show off products. Your laptop might pay for itself by helping generate more sales, or you may be able to claim the cost of the machine as a tax deduction.

Laptops aren't easily upgraded. You can extend the life of a desktop system by changing the hard drive or adding a more powerful central processing unit. Those options are available on some laptops too but can be up to three times more costly than similar upgrades on desktop systems.

A desktop system is usually a better buy for a family because it'll stay in the same place so everyone has access to it. Also, adding a docking station, monitor and full-size keyboard to a laptop can add more than $1,500 to the cost of the machine - enough to buy an entry level desktop and monitor.

IBM, Toshiba, Apple and Compaq are the top manufacturers of laptops. Expect to pay about $1,500 for a black-and-white, entry-level laptop suitable for students. A multimedia, color Toshiba with CD-ROM costs about $4,000. Some of the high-end laptops manufactured by IBM cost about $7,500. They feature huge hard drives, vivid color screens and a lot of power. Always buy as much machine as you can afford. You can never have too much power.

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